‘How significant was the role of the Secret Police in maintaining communist control in the
years 1917-85’
Between 1917 and 1985 the USSR adapted and developed the strategies used by the Secret
Police to in order to effectively maintain control, ensure loyalty and dissuade dissidents or
criticisers. Initially the secret police were brutal and thuggish, aiming to maintain control
through brute force and terror but, in the later years, international pressure to upkeep
human rights and reduce terror saw the Secret Police become a surveillance focused
organisation. However, in order to credibly judge whether the role of the Secret Police was
significant in maintaining control in the USSR, it must be decided if it was more crucial than
other methods such as media, propaganda and religion. Which was the more significant
factor in maintaining control, either through promoting loyalty or silencing dissidents and
preventing uprisings? Overall, it could be valid to say that whilst the media, propaganda and
the methods of controlling religion were effective in gaining support or removing
opposition, the role of the secret police was more significant as it was a long-term threat
that ensured Communist control throughout the years 1917-85. And whilst it must be
acknowledged that the significance does change throughout the period, it remains higher
than the media or the methods of dealing with religion.
When the first instalment of the Secret Police (the Cheka) was founded, its function was to
act against counter-revolutionaries such as the Kronstadt mutiny and Tambov uprising.
During the Civil War, the Cheka was extremely powerful and therefore significant, as it acted
with minimal interference from legal powers (a benefit that remained until Khrushchev’s
rise to power). Additionally, the Cheka was used to silence political opponents as well as
civilian dissidents, with the Mensheviks and SR’s being targeted during the Red Terror, up to
200,000 opponents were shot and 1/3 of the party was purged. Ruthless and brutal, the
Cheka was an instrument of terror and was incredibly effective at preventing dissidents
despite other policies such as the Nomenklatura being more productive at ensuring loyalty.
However, after becoming the OGPU, the secret police became the NKVD in 1934 and the
rates of terror skyrocketed marking the start of Stalin’s Great Terror. Purges increased, show
trials became common and the Gulags were expanded. Arrests took place in the middle of
the night to disorientate victims and leave citizens in a constant state of paranoia and fear.
Under Yezhov, quotas for arrests were introduced leading to meaningless bloodshed. It
became so extreme that with the threat of WW11, Yezhov was removed as the terror was
demoralising the country and Stalin feared that a war effort would be weak if the citizens
didn’t support the regime. Overall, the NKVD was the most bloodthirsty and brutal rendition
of the USSR Secret Police and the most significant factor in maintaining communist control
under Stalin. It silenced opposition, increased loyalty and prevented uprisings through sheer
terror of the NKVD. During these early years of the regime, terror was absolutely the most
significant factor in maintaining control. Whilst Stalin’s Socialist Realism and military posters
were effective propaganda tools, terror was the most prominent method of control in the
USSR until 1953. However, when Khrushchev gained power, his policy of De-Stalinisation
saw the KGB be created and Andropov oversee a new form of Secret Police. The gulags were
years 1917-85’
Between 1917 and 1985 the USSR adapted and developed the strategies used by the Secret
Police to in order to effectively maintain control, ensure loyalty and dissuade dissidents or
criticisers. Initially the secret police were brutal and thuggish, aiming to maintain control
through brute force and terror but, in the later years, international pressure to upkeep
human rights and reduce terror saw the Secret Police become a surveillance focused
organisation. However, in order to credibly judge whether the role of the Secret Police was
significant in maintaining control in the USSR, it must be decided if it was more crucial than
other methods such as media, propaganda and religion. Which was the more significant
factor in maintaining control, either through promoting loyalty or silencing dissidents and
preventing uprisings? Overall, it could be valid to say that whilst the media, propaganda and
the methods of controlling religion were effective in gaining support or removing
opposition, the role of the secret police was more significant as it was a long-term threat
that ensured Communist control throughout the years 1917-85. And whilst it must be
acknowledged that the significance does change throughout the period, it remains higher
than the media or the methods of dealing with religion.
When the first instalment of the Secret Police (the Cheka) was founded, its function was to
act against counter-revolutionaries such as the Kronstadt mutiny and Tambov uprising.
During the Civil War, the Cheka was extremely powerful and therefore significant, as it acted
with minimal interference from legal powers (a benefit that remained until Khrushchev’s
rise to power). Additionally, the Cheka was used to silence political opponents as well as
civilian dissidents, with the Mensheviks and SR’s being targeted during the Red Terror, up to
200,000 opponents were shot and 1/3 of the party was purged. Ruthless and brutal, the
Cheka was an instrument of terror and was incredibly effective at preventing dissidents
despite other policies such as the Nomenklatura being more productive at ensuring loyalty.
However, after becoming the OGPU, the secret police became the NKVD in 1934 and the
rates of terror skyrocketed marking the start of Stalin’s Great Terror. Purges increased, show
trials became common and the Gulags were expanded. Arrests took place in the middle of
the night to disorientate victims and leave citizens in a constant state of paranoia and fear.
Under Yezhov, quotas for arrests were introduced leading to meaningless bloodshed. It
became so extreme that with the threat of WW11, Yezhov was removed as the terror was
demoralising the country and Stalin feared that a war effort would be weak if the citizens
didn’t support the regime. Overall, the NKVD was the most bloodthirsty and brutal rendition
of the USSR Secret Police and the most significant factor in maintaining communist control
under Stalin. It silenced opposition, increased loyalty and prevented uprisings through sheer
terror of the NKVD. During these early years of the regime, terror was absolutely the most
significant factor in maintaining control. Whilst Stalin’s Socialist Realism and military posters
were effective propaganda tools, terror was the most prominent method of control in the
USSR until 1953. However, when Khrushchev gained power, his policy of De-Stalinisation
saw the KGB be created and Andropov oversee a new form of Secret Police. The gulags were
